Washing a car is simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to perform a good job. This article will show you how to make your automobile seem gleaming and new in just a few simple steps.
The paint needs to be regularly washed and protected to guarantee its brightness and durability. A quick look at how to keep your body as bright as it is shiny.
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| How to wash a car properly |
All our tips for a clean and spruce bodywork
The manual cleaning of the outside, carried out with suitable products, is without a doubt the most efficient and complete washing method. Use only products dedicated to bodywork, formulated to be efficient while respecting the materials.
Above all, choose the right time to take action. Thus, never wash your vehicle in the sun, neither during too high temperatures in summer (40 °C) or too cold in winter (7 °C). Not only can this alter the effect of the products and the final result of the washing, but it can also lead to a risk for the treated surfaces.
Choose the «good products»
- A shiny shampoo is made to clean and give a shiny appearance to a regularly maintained body.
- As for polish, it is the little extra that will protect it from aggression.
- Body renovators are designed to remove the dull veil of old paintings.
- They revive colors but only have a superficial action.
All collectors know this: the quality of the products is paramount. For vehicles « are », it is best to use Carnauba wax shampoos that not only clean but protect and shine the surface.
When applied to any surface, wax protects your body from heat, UV, oxidation, humidity, and pollution. Also of excellent quality, the polishing wax « Original Wax » is applied to a clean body after washing. Careful, it should be wiped immediately and worked on small surfaces with elbow oil.
The three stages of a good wash
1- Start with a good shower
The dirtier your car is, the more important the shower is. Whether you are doing this at home with a simple water jet, a high-pressure cleaner, or in a washing center (avoid rolls, most of which can cause micro-scratches on the body surface), this step eliminates dirt, mud, or even microchips that are stuck to the body to avoid carrying sponge residue and creating microchips.
A bodywork « shower » from bottom to top so that the traces of dirty water when flowing do not mark the surface and drain better on an already clean surface. Start with the parts that are particularly prone to fouling: crates, doors, bumpers...
2 - Shampooing
It is a meticulous washing step. It makes it easy to remove resistant stains and remove them one by one. In a washing center, it is recommended to always start with the hood of the vehicle. So by the time you get around, the detergent will have had time to make its effect and soak up the stubborn stains and dried insects.
- Use the cleaner's detergent suction system if your cleaner is equipped with it to apply concentrated shampoo.
- Place the suction tube in the detergent can and adjust the mixture density.
- To facilitate certain operations on the under body or under the body, use a bent lance or a hose.
On the sponge, you can use shampoos without traces which, after rinsing, dry in 20 minutes and will avoid you drying your vehicle manually.
Ideally, it is preferable to use two buckets: one in which you will soak your sponge and soak it with a soapy solution (shampoo + warm water), the other in which you will rinse it.
Thus, the dirt is released in one of the buckets, the shampoo water will remain clean throughout the washing of the body, and you avoid any risk of scratches!
At the sponge, start with the less clogged roof and finish with the bottom of the box.
3 - Rinsing/wiping
Above all, he must be careful. The darker the color of the car, the more visible the traces of remaining soap or limestone are after drying.
Rinse this time from top to bottom, starting with the roof towards the windshield and rear window. Insist on the turn of the windows, the interstices of the doors, to avoid any subsequent flows.
A good rinse also allows removing the last dust and dirt. The cold water jet is the best solution to effectively rinse the body. However, do not spray the floor to prevent dirt from bouncing onto your bottom. Chamois-skin wiping is an essential step to eliminate all traces of water and limestone on the body.
Your cold-weather body...
As surprising as it may seem, it is important to wash your car in winter. On average, one million tons of salt is poured into the French road network each year to clear snow or melt the ice.
The equivalent of about 48 kg of brine (a mixture of water and salt) spread on the roads every second! And the kilometers of roads that are not covered by this mixture are indirectly salted by vehicles that have previously driven on the treated roads.
Salt is particularly corrosive and damages your car if it is not cleaned quickly. To avoid damage to your paint and body, remember to wash your car, especially the chassis and wheels! This will avoid rust formation on the chassis and the under body.
This can be done in a washing center where the « axle can be ».cleaned. However, choose the time to clean your car because most roller wash stations close when the temperature drops below 3 °C! And if you thought that the high-pressure jets in hot water were spared by the frost, you are mistaken:
hot water freezes faster than cold water! Isn't it amazing? So the solution is to wait for a gentle cooling, but don't forget to wash at least the chassis of your vehicle when temperatures go up!